Section 144 CrPC imposed in EGH to ensure free & fair polling

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 11, 2019

WILLIAMNAGAR: Within twenty four hours from the date of announcement of election to the Lok Sabha, the District Magistrate East Garo Hills District swung into action and imposed Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code as to ensure free and fair polling in the district.

According to the order, the District Magistrate prohibited wall writing, pasting of posters/papers or defacement in any other forms, or erecting/displaying of cut-outs, hoarding, banners, flags, etc on any Government premises.

The order prohibited displaying of flags and banners in private premises except with the voluntary written permission of the occupants/owners. Photo copy of the voluntary permission in writing in this connection should be submitted to the Assistant Returning Officer (DC) within three days of putting up flags or banners.

Nothing inflammatory or likely to incite disaffection among communities shall be permissible in writing/displays, it added.

The District Magistrate has clamped down on displaying of flags and stickers etc in private vehicles and in case it is put up the owner of the vehicle on his own volition should not cause any inconvenience or distraction to other roads users.

The order prohibited the display of any flag, sticker etc in commercial vehicles unless such vehicle is vehicle validity used for election campaign after obtaining the requisite permission from the District Electoral Officer/Returning Officer and display thereof in original in the wind shield of the vehicle.

The carrying of arms by unauthorized persons are strictly prohibited but exempted for Security Forces, it stated.